South Wairarapa District Council’s Infrastructure Committee today made the decision to convert Martinborough’s Huangarua Bridge from two-lanes to one-lane.
The Huangarua Bridge on Ponatahi Road, just outside Martinborough, is a key link to Carterton and beyond, carrying around 1,570 vehicles per day. It has a documented crash history and several identified safety risks, particularly for drivers unfamiliar with the road.
As part of the ongoing programme of works to improve road safety across the district, council officers proposed to convert the existing two-lane Huangarua Bridge on Ponatahi Road into a one-lane bridge.
The budget of $20,000 is included in Council’s approved budgets and is subsidised at 51 percent by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency through the Financial Assistance Rate. The safety improvements are expected to:
- Improve safety for all road users
- Reduce the risk of crashes, including head‑on collisions
- Better accommodate wide vehicles, including trucks and farm machinery
- Increase driver confidence when crossing the bridge
Community feedback was sought in November. While much of the feedback opposed the one‑lane conversion and suggested widening the bridge, widening was assessed as not cost‑effective, with estimated costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Some feedback also suggested no changes were needed as local drivers are familiar with the bridge. However, the bridge is regularly used by visitors and freight vehicles, increasing safety risks for those unfamiliar with the road layout.
The works will include road line painting; signs; traffic management; and trimming back the willows on the riverbank. These improvements along with the approved speed reduction to 60 km/hr for this section of road will help improve safety.
The community will be informed when timelines for the works are in place.
ENDS
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